Panel crating structures



May 21, l957 1 w. JOHNSON 2,792,936

PANEL CRATING STRUCTURES Filed May 2, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

Unite tates Patent PANEL CRATING STRUCTURES Leonard W. Johnson, Amesbury, Mass., assigner to The Bailey Company, lne., Amesbury, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 2, 1955, Serial No. 505,159

6 Claims. (Cl. 26d-60) This invention relates to improvements in panel crating structures. More particularly the invention provides improved panel crating structures of the general variety dis closed in Patent No. 2,593,152, granted April 15, 1952, on the joint application of the present applicant and Herbert W. Pottle, wherein channel elements extend in protective relation to edge margins of grouped wall board panels, or the like, along all four edges of the panels, with means for locking the protective channel elements 'together at two or at all four corner regions of the crated assemblage.

When handling relatively large panels which have been protectively crated in accordance with the disclosure of the said patent, the channel elements of the patent disclosure effectively serve their purposes when the crated assemblage is maintained on edge or substantially in a vertical plane when the assemblage is being moved from place to place. A crated assemblage of relatively large panels requires two or more men to carry it, and the men, for one reason or another, frequently grasp opposite ends of the crated assemblage with the panels in generally horizontal positions and the assemblage, due to the weight of the panels, tends to assume a bowed condition. The prior channel elements have not been of a nature to successfully resist such a bowing tendency, and they have been unable to yield and stretch to accommodate the bowing. Hence, not infrequently, under the mentioned conditions, the prior channel elements become deformed under the load of the bowing assemblage of panels and the edge margins of the panels, at opposite sides of the assemblage, wrench themselves free of the channel elements, and sometimes the corner locking means fail.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a panel crating structure having panel edge enclosing channel elements which can yield and expand to accommodate themselves to a bowed condition of a panel assemblage and which are adapted to be restored to substantially their original condition when the panel assemblage becomes restored to a generally flat condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel crating structure wherein a channel element engages over at least two opposite edge margins of grouped wall panels, or the like, with means maintaining them on the crated assemblage, said channel elements at said opposite edge margins being expansble and contractable in di rections along the said opposite edge margins, whereby said channel element at each of said opposite edge margins of the panels can accommodate itself to temporary bowed conditions of the panel assemblage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a panel crating structure wherein a corrugated sheet metal channel element protectively encloses each of the four edge margins of an assemblage of panels, or the like, with means at a plurality of the corners of the assemblage securing an end of the channel element at one edge margin to an adjacent end of the channel element at another 2,792,936 Patented May 21, 1957 ice edge margin, said corrugated channel element at each Fig. 2 is an end edge view of the 'assemblage shown in Fig. 1 but on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the assemblage of Fig. 1, shown bowed by the weight of the panels, as when the assemblage is being supported by men grasping opposite ends 0f the assemblage;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the four similar corner portions of the assembly of Figs. 1-3 on a larger scale substantially larger than that of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View on line 5--5 of Fig. `2, on a scale substantially the same as that of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of one of my improved corrugated channel elements having a lining material therein. j

Referring `to the drawing, four relatively large area rectangular panels are represented at 10, over the edge margins of which sheet metal channel elements 12, 12 and 14, 14 are engaged for protectively enclosing and maintaining the panels in their assembled arrangement.

As shown, each of the similar channel elements 12, 12 has length for engaging over side edges of the associated panels from end to end thereof, and each of the similar channel elements 14, 14 has length for engaging over end edges of the associated panels from side to side thereof. However, the channel elements 12, 12 are slightly wider than channel elements 14, 14 to permit end portions of the elements 14, 14 to beinserted within the side walls of elements 12, 12 at the four corner regions of the assemblage of panels.

The channel elements may be secured together at the corners of the assemblage by any suitable means. One satisfactory securing means, as shown, comprises pro,- jecting side wall tongues 12a, 12b on the opposite ends of the channel elements 12, 12, and a projecting bottom wall tongue 14a on the opposite ends of the channel elements 14, 14. When channel strips 12, 14 have been arranged over a side edge margin and an end edge margin of the associated panels 10, adjacent ends of the two elements may be effectively secured together by bending the tongues 12a, 12b of element 12 inward against the bottom wall of the channel element 14, as best seen in Fig. 4. This leaves one of the tongues 14a of element 14 projecting beyond the in-turned tongues 12B, 12b, as shown in Fig. 4. Tongue 14P- then may be bent outward and over upon the in-turned tongues 12a, 12b to effect a secure and strong corner connection of the channel elements. The elements may be similarly connected together at each of the other three corner regions, as shown in Fig. l.

According to the invention, the channel elements 12, 12, and the channel elements 14, 14 when desired, are formed to provide for elongation and contraction of different portions of the strips in response to bowing of the panels during handling of a crated assemblage of panels, as when the assemblage, in horizontal position, may be lifted by men grasping opposite ends of the as- 3 semblage. Under such conditions, the weight of the panels causes the assemblage to assume a bowed condition as suggested in Fig. 3.

v Assuming thatthe panelshavelength sueltas eight, feet,for example, the assemblage `of panels, when handled as described in connection with Fig. 3, may become bowed as much as eight or nine-inches from an initial hori zontal condition. The herein described channel elements 12, 12 can expand at convex regions of the bow and contract at concave regions to accommodate the bowing. However, it is. important to employ sheet metal and a corrugated structure which willexpand and contract in the directions of they bowing-without any sube stantial bowing of the bottom wallsof the elements 12, 12 outwardly away from the :adjacentedgesof the panels. The guage of the sheetmetabmustnot` be. too small and yet not too large, and; the.y depth ofthe corrugations should be selected with relation tothe size. andv weight of the assembled panels. Experimentation with electro galvanized sheet steel of different thicknesses indicates that there are rather critical limits within which the thickness of the sheet steelmustbe selected and the depth and number of the corrugations are important considerations. It has been determined that satisfactory results are attainable with sheet steel` stock having thickness within the range of .005.025" with overall depth of corrugations within the range of .040".Q60, and a number of corrugations within ,the range of-seven to ten per inch. These specifications will vary' tosuit particular conditions and requirements. Also, it will be` found desirable to employ suitably spaced metal binding straps 16 for holding the channel elements, at selected locations,`

against movement in directions away from the panel edges. Straps 16 extend all aroundthe crated assemblage with the ends of each strap secured together at 18by any suitable means. A similar strap 20 may extend around the assemblage lengthwise thereof, or there may be two or more of the straps 20.

Although electro galvanized sheet steel stock is herein mentioned as suitable for the corrugated channel ele.

ments, other available sheet metal materials may be used so long as the thickness thereof andthe depth and number of corrugations are suitably predetermined for providing needed expansibility and contractability of the elements along with an adequate ,degree of rigidity at thechannel bottom walls to eifectively resist, in conjunction with binding straps, or other c ha-nnelholding means, any disturbing amount of flexing andl bowing of the channel elements in direction away from the adjacent edges of the panels 10. In this` connection, it is mentioned that the channel elements, in somecases, may be held against movement away from the panel edges by relatively short strips of. suitably` strongj adhesive' tape engaged around any particular channel element with the opposite endsrof the tapeadhered to adjacent portions of the surfaces of the outermost panels, or4 strips of the adhesive tapemay extend all aroundthe crated assemblage in place of or. in addition tothe metal straps 16 and 20.

It may be desirable insome casesto provide a generally smooth liner Within the channel elements, or some of them, to avoid the possibility of marring of thepflllel surfaces as a result of direct engagement of metal with the panels. Fig. 6 illustrates such avliner 22 which may be of paper stock, for-example. As shown, the channel material is turned inward over the outer edges of the liner, at, 24, to holdtheliner within the channel. How-v ever, the liner may be held in place by any suitable. means, suchas by being cemented to thc channel walls or byfbeingvstapled tothe channel walls. If desired, the portion of the liner which covers the bottom wall `of the channel element may be. omitted.

Itis intended that `the patentsliall cover, by. suitable expression in the appendedv claims, whatever features of. patentable novelty Vexist in theinvention disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

l. A panel crating structure, comprising a plurality edges, including two opposite generally parallel edges, of one or more panels, said elements which engage over said opposite generally parallel edges being corrugated in directions generally transverse of the directions of extent of their channels whereby said corrugated elements are adapted to become bowed with bowing of the panel edges over which said elements engage, and means for securing all of said channel elements in assembled relation on said panel or'panels.

2. A panel crating structure, comprising corrugated sheet metal channel elements for engaging over at least two opposite generally parallel edge margins of a plurality of superimposed panels, the corrugations of each said elemen'textending generally transversely of the directon of extent of its channel whereby portions of said elements can expand in length and other portions contract in lengthin response to bowing of the paneliedge margins over which said elements engage, whereby said elements accommodate themselves to any bowed condition of said edge margins of the panels while continuing in effective' engagement over the said edge margins.

3. A panel crating structure, comprising sheet metal channel elements adapted to engage over the edge margins of superimposed generally rectangular panel members to `provide a crated panel assemblage, means at a plurality of lcorner regions of the assemblage securing adjacent ends, of different ones of said channel elements together, said` channelV elements which engage over two opposite edge margins of said panels being corrugated transversely of the directions of extent of their channels thereby to condition said channel elements at said opposite edge margins of thepanels for expansion and contractionl in response to bowing of said opposite edge margins of thev panels, whereby said corrugated channel elements conform themselves to changing conditions of said opposite edge margins of the panels.

4. A panel crating structure, comprising sheet metal channel elements adapted to engage over the edge margins of superimposed generally rectangular panel members to provide a crated panel assemblage, means at a plurality of corner regions of the assemblage securing adjacent ends of diierent ones of said channel elements together, said channel elements which engage over two opposite edge margins of said panels being corrugated transversely of the directions of extent of their channels thereby 'to condition said channel elements at said opposite edge margins of the panels for expansion and contraction in response to bowing of said opposite edge margins of the panels, whereby said corrugated channel elements conform themselves to changing conditions of said opposite edge margins of the panels, and means associatedwith said corrugated channel elements for oppos 3 ing any forces which may be tending to displace said over two opposite edge margins of said panels each having the opposite side walls of its channel corrugated transversely of the directions of extent of its channel whereby one of said corrugated channel side walls of each of the oppositely disposed channel elements can expand and the opposite corrugated side Wall ofl each of the oppositely disposed channel elements can contract in response to bowing of said opposite edge margins of the panels.

6. A panel crating structure, comprising a plurality of sheet metal channel elements adapted to engage over edges, including two opposite generally parallel edges, of one or more panels, said elements which engage over said opposite generally parallel edges being corrugated in directions generally transverse of the directions of extent of their channels whereby said corrugated elements are adapted to become bowed with bowing of the panel edges over which said elements engage, relatively smooth sheet material secured as a lining interiorly of the channel of each said channel element and substantially covering at least the opposite side walls of each said channel element, and means securing said channel elements against movement in direction away from the panel edges over which they, respectively, are engaged.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rudolph Aug. 17, 1915 Kellogg Nov. 29, 1938 Kelly Mar. 21, 1944 Johnson Apr. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 28, 1954 

